STUDENT midwives have spoken of their fears about finding a job after they graduate.

It comes after a Royal College of Midwives’ survey found that 90% of final-year students are struggling to find a job.

And the survey also revealed that at least one in 10 students have amassed debts of up to £9,000 while studying to become a midwife. Midwifery is already an all-graduate profession in Wales – England moves to the same system this year – but there are concerns about the financial impact this has on students, even though most believe that it improves care for pregnant women.

The survey of 170 students in the UK – the second to be carried out on students for the RCM – examined aspects of student midwives’ work, morale, hopes and aspirations to see how attitudes are changing with the shift to an all-graduate profession.

The results showed that morale among students was at an all-time low.

Lynn Jones, 29, from Caerphilly, who is a final year student at the University of Glamorgan, said getting a job after qualifying is a huge concern.

“There are limited jobs out there,” she said.

“There are people from my university who qualified as midwives last year and still do not have jobs.”

“I have tried to do everything possible as a student so my application will stand out.

“I have been to Ethiopia for my elective placement.

“It is stressful worrying about getting a job, but this is what I want to do.

“I have a mortgage and am married, I could relocate but it would be quite difficult.”

Other students, particularly those who are switching careers to midwifery, spoke of the intense financial burden funding training can impose.

One mature student had to re-mortgage her home to pay for a child-minder to look after her four children for two years, while she undertook her midwifery training. Sue Jacob, student services adviser for the RCM, said: “The outlook for jobs for recently qualified student midwives is bleak. We don’t want student midwives to be used to fill gaps in staff shortages on wards.

“We need to find a way for student midwives to find employment as midwives.

“Otherwise, their education, talent, energy, enthusiasm, and the cost of training them is going to be lost. It could be a tremendous waste of taxpayer’s money.”

Helen Rogers, head of the RCM in Wales, said: “The RCM is aware that student midwives are under considerable financial pressure.

“We are also aware that newly qualified midwives are finding it much more difficult to find jobs.”

General secretary of the RCM, Dame Karlene Davis, said: “This survey confirms what we have been saying for some time – that morale among student midwives is declining because of their accumulated debts and uncertainty about job prospects. However, the survey also shows that student midwives want to deliver high-quality care and apply their training, but too many are not getting this opportunity.

“We are campaigning for a £10,000 non means-tested bursary for all student midwives.”

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: “Heads of midwifery in Wales have regular meetings throughout the year and one of the issues they discuss is the employment of newly qualified midwives.

“They make every effort to ensure that posts are available for new graduates. Occasionally this will mean that newly qualified midwives may have to work part time or in an area that would not be their first choice, until further vacancies arise.

“This allows individuals to continue to develop their skills while waiting for their ideal job to become available. As with any other employment, midwifery posts are competitive and appointments are made on the basis of ability.”